Movies
Lights Officially Go Out on Uni’s ‘Dark Tower’
Universal has officially placed the ambitious multiplatform franchise The Dark Tower in turnaround, a very black and cold place in Hollywood terminology.
Variety first reported that the studio had second thoughts about the film and TV project from Akiva Goldsman and helmer Ron Howard on May 5, when the studio began mulling a turnaround.
Tower involved a television show that would have continued the narrative in between three movies, all based on Steven King’s seven-novel series (King has completed an eighth, “The Wind Through the Keyhole,” set for publication in 2012).
Howard unveiled plans for “The Dark Tower” adaptation last September. Universal soon came on as a distributor, thanks to Imagine’s production deal with the studio; NBC (or an affiliated cable net) was expected carry the TV component.
By April, scribe Mark Verheiden was brought on board to write the TV show along with Goldsman.
No financier has officially signed on to the project, but Warner Bros. could be a likely option since the studio is home to Goldsman’s Weed Road Pictures shingle.
Imagine Entertainment’s Brian Grazer and Goldsman were set to produce while Javier Bardem was attached to star.
Howard is expected to still helm the project if the studio shops it elsewhere and it finds a new home.
Though U declined to comment on the reasons behind the pass, sources said the franchise simply came at too high a price. The unprecedented package would have taken the franchise model to a new level, and sources said U’s issues were financial, not creative.
The killer tomatoes are back in Attack of the Killer Tomatoes: Organic Intelligence, and the offiical poster for the brand new movie has been unleashed tonight.
Additionally, we’ve learned that the film’s theatrical release is set for this August, with a panel set for San Diego Comic-Con this month featuring the world premiere of the trailer.
While you wait, check out the official poster down below.
Attack of the Killer Tomatoes: Organic Intelligence will be released in select cities across the US beginning August 7th in major cities such as Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, San Diego, and others, and expanding to further locations throughout the month.
The fifth installment in the horror-comedy franchise pits the eternal power of nature against AI’s best and brightest.
In Attack of the Killer Tomatoes: Organic Intelligence, a young biotech prodigy develops a revolutionary genetically engineered vegetable designed to solve humanity’s problems. But when the experiment spirals out of control, it unleashes a new generation of killer tomatoes, setting the stage for another outrageous chapter in the long-running cult franchise.
Attack of the Killer Tomatoes co-creators Costa Dillon and J. Stephen Peace return to write and executive produce. David Ferino directs.
The film features an ensemble cast led by franchise icon John Astin (The Addams Family), reprising his role as Professor Gangreen, comedy legend David Koechner (Anchorman), Academy Award nominee Eric Roberts (The Dark Knight), horror favorite Catherine Corcoran (Terrifier), comedy veteran Dan Bakkedahl (Veep), Myrna Velasco (Star Wars Resistance), Vernée Watson (Shrinking, Fresh Prince of Bel-Air), and Paul Bates (Coming to America).
Attack of the Killer Tomatoes launched in 1979, followed by 1988’s Return of the Killer Tomatoes, 1991’s Killer Tomatoes Strike Back, and 1992’s Killer Tomatoes Eat France.
The franchise also spawned an animated series in 1990.
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